Morning Bell: Obama’s Anti-Drilling Agenda Costs Jobs Across America

President Obama’s hometown of Chicago is nearly 1,000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. But like many other communities across the country, it is suffering the consequences of his Administration’s anti-drilling agenda.

Illinois accounted for $376.2 million in shallow-water drilling expenditures over the past three years, according to an analysis by 14 oil and gas companies that spend money on vendors and subcontractors. The bulk of that money—$242.2 million—was spent in the Chicago district represented by Representative Danny Davis (D–IL).

It’s fresh evidence that Obama’s anti-drilling agenda is having a ripple effect across America since last year’s oil spill, claiming jobs not just in Louisiana and Texas but also in communities far removed from the shipyards in the Gulf of Mexico.

The study from the Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition paints a picture of the nationwide economic ramifications. Obama can’t even be blamed for playing politics. Five of the states that benefit most from shallow-water drilling backed him as a candidate in 2008. And Democrats represent many of the congressional districts that stand to lose millions.

The cost in jobs is startling. A new analysis by Louisiana State University professor Joseph Mason projects national job losses at 19,000 from the drilling moratorium, with wage losses at $1.1 billion. About one-third of those jobs are located outside the Gulf region.

Nearly a year after imposing his anti-drilling agenda, it’s quite clear that Obama is carrying out misguided policies causing widespread harm.

And job losses aren’t the only consequence. The Obama Administration’s deliberate delay in issuing permits for both deepwater and shallow-water drilling has led to a sharp decline in oil production for the Gulf of Mexico this year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration puts the figure at 240,000 fewer barrels every day.

The recent approval of new drilling permits for the Gulf of Mexico is a welcome and long overdue move by the Administration, but it’s nothing to celebrate. The pace of permitting is far below the historical average, and there’s no indication that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has any desire to return production to a pre-spill level.

Until that happens, expect more grim news like the unfortunate circumstances facing Seahawk Drilling, which was forced to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a direct result of the bureaucratic delays at BOEMRE. Seahawk’s president and chief executive Randy Stilley, writing in The Washington Post, painted a dire picture:

The government’s drastic slowdown in the issuance of permits for shallow-water drilling operations—in which companies work in familiar geological formations, typically in less than 500 feet of water, mostly seeking to produce natural gas—has all but crippled the industry. The survivors (for now) like Hercules are staying afloat largely thanks to revenue from operations outside U.S. waters. Put another way, a once-proud industry born in the gulf during the Truman administration can no longer survive on operations in its own back yard.

It’s time for lawmakers to take notice. Representative John Sullivan (R–OK), who represents a district with $87.2 million in shallow-water expenditures over the past three years, recognizes the impact. He told us: “Continuing to keep American sources of energy under lock and key by failing to issue drilling permits only serves to place American jobs at risk, drives up costs at the pump and deepens our dependence on foreign oil.”

Things don’t have to be this way. The House of Representatives must continue to conduct rigorous oversight of the Obama Administration, challenging the Administration’s excuses and applying pressure when necessary. America’s energy future depends on it.

According to a Reuters poll, only 17 percent of Americans see President Barack Obama as a strong and decisive military leader.

General Electric, whose CEO Jeffrey Immelt is also the head of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, not only paid no taxes on its $14.2 billion in profit last year; it even claimed a $3.2 billion benefit.

According to Gallup, unionized state government workers are twice as likely to be Democrats than Republicans.

I appreciate what Heritage does and the agenda they support. But at the same time, I am VERY tired of the politics. The oil issue has been an issue for years and yet administration after administration has done nothing. Am I concerned about Obama's policies? You bet! He is weakening this country in many, many ways and his ego won't let him stop. But I am more concerned about the fact that nothing regardless of who is in power is getting done – they say the right things but then issues just sit there. That includes Iran, our oil dependency, our southern border, the Middle East in general, North Korea, and the list goes on… We talk a lot, we politic a lot and yet everyone seems to just sweep everything in time into a corner for the next administration. When is it going to stop?

Unions workers make more $$$, and have better Benefits than non-union.

The HF and GOP are Anti-Worker.

How do I KNOW?

Have YOU ever – repeat – EVER read anything

that is NOT ANTI-Worker?

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You pay $796.00 a month for HCInsurance.

PLUS, YOU are paying into Medicare for later in your life.

I have Medicare – and pay less than $100.00

KJ

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The unions are the single biggest scourge on America; exclude the current president, both are trying to bring change. Apparently people like Ken Jarvis are not disturbed about dropout rates, graduations without basic skills and 50% failure rate in the Los Angeles USD right along with the desecration of Detroit and other cities governed by democrats. Oh, I realize the latest and greatest scape goat; George Bush, HF and Republicans. Is George Bush making people march in Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin and planning in many other cities because they want their neighbors to pay for their retirement? No; grownups are trying t fix the problems created by democrat policies.

The pap about the HC bill insurance bill from Mr. Jarvis, which is so great that 1,000 waivers have been issued and insurance carriers are declining to provide coverage for, is just sad.

Sad because, just like the high public salaries are being paid by those of us underemployed or unemployed. I pay 796.00 a month for my individual policy and do not want to pay for people who never thought about health insurance before I became a reason to whine. I wonder if I can buy fire insurance while my house is burning. Beyond Detroit, which is an example of democrat policies, New York City, all of California, the states of Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida, all were governed by democrat failed policies. It is not a me and you issue; not a me win – you lose game.

Ken Jarvis is the same mind set as those who collect welfare, food stamps, etc yet they drive expensive cars, have flat screen TV’s, they but expensive clothes for their kids. I was a single mother, a widow and I made it the hard way, I paid for my medical Ins. it came out of my check, I made alot of my daughters clothes and my own, I even made shirts for my sons, and my drapes, slipcovers, I still make a chicken last three or maybe 4 meals, a roast two or three, I shop end of season sales. First of all most trips to the doctors are unneessary, a simple course in first aid would tell you unless it’s broken or the cut needs sutures most can be treated with simply washing with soap and water, a little antibiotic ointment and a band-aid. Sore throats with salt water, I could go on. I do not agree with Ins. companies running the doctors offices nor telling me that the paper work is more important than my patient, THAT is where change is needed. Let us nurses and doctors do our jobs and Insurance companies go back to paying for emergency, surgical and obstectrical care, Mom and Dad pay for the routine like I did and my mother did. You want everything covered than expect to pay for it, but don’t expect me or others that work to pay your bills. Welfare needs to be changed, if you get it than you must work community service jobs, exception would be those physically unable. It’s time to break the trend, no more getting something for notheing in return.

the only way to create jobs…..is to make government smaller and less intrusive…..make taxes fewer and simpler……and free markets…..we can weather the ups and downs of free markets….we cannot weather the ups and downs of government manipulated markets like we are seeing now. The Fed needs to put the dollar back on the gold standard and stop printing and diluting our dollar and they need to stop manipulating interest rates, stock prices and gold prices. I'd like to see The Fed audited and ended….or just ended.

Obviously, obama is in favor of deep water drilling…as long as it is by a foreign entity (Petrobras) and one that is being loaned money by a good bank (the US taxpayer) and heavily invested in by good friends of his (George Soros). These smallish USA outfits are just not with it – they are not "world" citizens; so they don't count.

Sarcasm aside, I really believe that the States ought to ignore the federal government and open drilling anyway. They should announce publicly their "civil disobediance" and force the issue.

Is this true? • George Soros and his various money-distribution organizations such as MoveOn.org spend heavily on behalf of Obama's run for the presidency.

• Soros invests over $800 million for a large stake in Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company.

• The U.S. arranges for the Ex-Im Bank to guarantee loans of $2 billion to Brazil for exploration of offshore oil finds.

• Brazil makes a huge find right at its front door.

• The U.S. shuts down virtually all drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, continues offshore bans along the East and West coasts and off the coast of Alaska.

• Libya, Africa's largest oil producer, erupts into a bloody revolution against the régime of the psychotic tyrant Ghaddafi.

• Obama materializes in Brazil and explains to oil executives that, "We want to help with technology and support to develop these oil reserves safely, and when you're ready to start selling, we want to be one of your best customers."

• Hundreds of thousands of American workers in energy, energy-dependent, and related industries see their hopes for re-employment dashed.

A fascinating & well researched article showing some of the ripple effect from Obama's anti-drilling agenda. This is another area where the Republicans in Congress seem to be AWOL. Perhaps they are trying to do something, but the public doesn't know about it. Sadly, perception is more important than reality in politics. In the meantime, Obama tries to take credit for the increased oil production from drilling permits issued by prior administrations.

To me, it's so simple that it's mind-boggling. Yes, we should pursue all forms of renewable energy, BUT, the practical application of those sources is years off. The smart thing to do would be to maximize the use of our resources,(i.e. oil, coal and natural gas) to the fullest while we perfect renewables.

The fact that this IS so simple, and we're not pusuing it, is scary. What is Obama's end game???Our new(and old) representatives in both houses better get busy. So far, I don't see a lot of the promise of last November.

It would probably help if he actually liked this country, all indications are that he wants to ruin the capitalist system and try something else. I lived though the Jimmy Carter disaster and thought I would never see such as he again but the Democrats have pulled another out of the hat much worse and flim-flamed the American Voter with their scam. Mr. Obama is out of his depth, Mr. Obama had no experience, Mr. Obama has a hidden past and agenda that the propaganda organs of the DNC, the so called Main Stream Media hid from the electorate on purpose. The Democrat Party of Harry Truman is no more, what is left has morphed into the Democrat/Progressive/Marxist Party and Harry Truman would be appalled.

The HOUSE is stagnant! I'm very seriously considering voting for Trump if he runs for president. At least this country will start moving and growing again for the positive! When something is "broke" Trump will "fix" it and proceed onward and upward.

Things certainly do not have to be this way. The House of Representatives should be "setting the table" on a daily and weekly basis, turning up the heat on the administration and the Senate. Republicans in the Senate should be playing hardball every day fighting for every sentence and every scrap of our Constitution.

Instead, Obama and Harry Reid are playing John Boehner like a fiddle. No wonder Pelosi was smiling when she passed him the gavel. Do you think Pelosi would have been smiling if she had to pass the gavel to Michele Bachmann?

The answer to our energy needs seems so obvious. Start drilling for gas and oil, dig for more coal, build nuclear plants within our boarders and off our own shore. The green crowd has promised renewable biofuel, solar, wind for 35 years with no success. It's about time we quit listening to the green fairy tails and start doing what we know will work. I don't care how many reindeer we inconvenience in Alaska, how many butterfiles are disturbed in Montana and the Dekots, or the discomfort to Sardines off our cost. If I were running for president I would declair a Declaration of Energy Independance with in my first term. incentives such as regulatory short cuts, right of way, expideted permitting and so on. The day we anounce such a progran the world price for oil will drop. The day we achive independance OPEC will begin to unravel and most of our middle east problems will end.

The useful idiots keep voting in the likes of Obama and other Democrats who are hell bent on destroying The American Capitalists system. Obama's, backed by Soros and American Media, goal is destroy our system. It would not surprise me if the idiots reelect Obama again, no ,matter how lousy their lives are.

Most Conservatives observing what Obama says, but seeing what he actually does, is the best guess reasoning in dealing with him and his followers. He controls more than 50% of the country through Unions and Americans dependent on free money from the government. He is the new Saul Alinsky reborn to attack our way of life.

Agreed– the anti-drilling agenda does interfer with job creation and also increases our dependency on foreign suppliers. But, the more important and substanially ignored debacle of "free trade" has resulted in the loss of tens of millions of jobs, thousands of factories and complete industries. Oil dependence pales in comparison to these losses, but noone seems to understand the dire need to restore these jobs. This common sense notion of Americans producing for their own needs would make our Country financially solvent and truly independent. Log onto http://www.SOS-SaveOurSovereignty.US for more details.

The continued lethargic private sector job market should come as no surprise to us as Obama has, from day one of his campaigning, defined "CHANGE" as destroying the political and economic structure of the nation. He continues to degrade the integrity, capabilities, freedoms and moral of the nation in subtle agenda driven actions and commitments.

It's obvious Obama and his misguided czars and other assorted flunkeys believe oil production is like a light bulb that can be turned on and off in a moment. Things don't work that way, and they should know as much, but…………

In the mean time, BHO is taking credit for the progress made by the Bush administration in terms of oil production, ignoring the fact that it takes five years to see a change in production numbers. He's doing his usual "whatever it takes" to look good and get re-elected. Fear is that the liberal loons will win again and we will see another four years of destruction.

Why did Brizal get to Install a gas storage unit that stores 1000,000 brls of crude in the Gulf of Mexico and we gave them the loan to do it.? Only one way to get rid of this …..l………. VOTE this Bastard out

With the non drilling issue in the news daily and continuining to ask for a lift on the ban, it is only playing right into the hands of the administration. As fuel prices soar and the campaign moves into full swing the ban is lifted, fuel prices will drop and all we will read about it till election eve is who saved the country. Then we al know what happens the next 4 more years.

There are oil and nautral gas reserves untouched in the intermountain west because of this administrations policies. Our schools are suffering because of the lost taxe revenue. Obama's end game is "let them eat cake"

Since the elites in Washington aren't hurting themselves, their actions/inactions have reached the point of ignorance. (ie. ANWR in Alaska, oil shales in Utah and Colorado, as well as the Gulf of Mexico)

And just think of our cost for the president's family vacation to Brazil-think how that flaunts the US publics cost reductions..

At the same time the Obama administration was curtailing exploration and development wells in the Gulf of Mexico, he was professing that jobs were to be his main focus. Such hypocrisy should be prominently aired on all networks and in print.

Rob Bluey, excellent piece, but you are misguided to use the word "misguided" about Obama's Energy Policy. The word is "perfidious" or "treasonous" because Obama's Policy is Kloward and Piven. Everybody is slapping Obama on the back for his 'work' in the Foreign Interest. I'm not a RINO like Sen. John McCain. He forgot the very swamp Viet Nam was and somehow it is Humanitarian Policy to clean up after Obama set the World on fire! John! John! Libya is a worse Political Quagmire than Vietnam! It actually is a NO WIN situation. Even if we win we lose!

I think Obama is the Political Organizing Sorcerer King! Didn't ACORN play a gigantic part in the Real Estate meltdown? Didn't Obama call up the "young people" and send in his Community Organizers two years ago to set this fire? Gosh! BP has offshore Rights in Libya, you don't suppose Big Corporations are getting Corp Welfare do you? No, no. It is just payoffs, like GE paying no taxes on $14 Billion. Did you notice GE paying off the Captive Media with slick ads? Saturation advertising so that everybody thinks GE is "green." Remember when BP did the same thing? Suddenly the airwaves were filled with BP "Oh we are so green!" Then BP causes the Gulf Oil Spill! (I think intentionally, because it is statistically impossible otherwise). Never waste a Man Caused Disaster! BP gets a chair at the Climate Exchange! It can't be an award for their Safety Record!

American Foreign Policy in the Foreign Interest! Uh, knock knock, didn't it used to be a Constitutional High Crime to serve the Foreign Interest while President? Conservatives have to stop saying Obama is stupid, or out of touch. Misguided does not explain what Obama is doing, has done and will do. It really is Treason. Oh yeah! I know! We never prosecute Treason. Now that the New FBI Director is the very person who was Negligent in their duties to help cause the Housing Crisis, it gives me so much comfort! She's got BO's back, not mine.

The FBI will go after Americans with a fury! And nobody will be investigating the Progressive Socialists wrecking everything!

We keep harping on Obama's imbecilic "energy policy" but do nothing about it.

The answer is for the States to assert their rights under the Enclave Clause, take back their territories illegally held by the feds, and drill!!!!!!!! No guts, no glory, and, more importantly, no solutions unless we step up to the plate! Check out a brief article about this subject on Opinerlog.blogspot.com entitled "Federal Imperialism v State Territorial Sovereignty". We are all complicit by allowing this insanity to go on to the detriment of our Nation. We act like we're powerless. And, of course, we are if we continue to submissively whine. And dont' think the courts on our side. No way. They've strayed so far from the Constitution that to rely upon them to protect us is as dumb as relying on Obama to advance conservative American ideals. Geez.

It's worth noting that the Administration is soliciting public input right now on where to allow offshore exploration and development for the next five years. If you're interested, you can submit a comment here: http://apps.facebook.com/appsforadvocacy/?=cp

The fact that they have started approving permits suggests they feel some pressure…

Kruschev would be dancing naked in Red Square if he could see what is the president of the U.S.. This president has proven to be more dangerous to our way of life than all of the communist dictators in the world put together…

We in America have the resources in the gulf, in Alaska and we are still dependent on Foreign Oil? Come on America, this does not make sense to me. My husband commutes 30 miles one way to his job. He is reimbursed for his miles driven on the job at the end of the pay period. But we are spending about 50 every other day to fill up his vehicle- that he has to have to carry his tools for his job and it is killing us. He is nearing retirement and we feel we would probably be making more if he went ahead and drew his social security. What really hurts is the folks like my 30 year old son. Got laid off a decent job and has a wife and two kids to support. The wife works at a 35-40 hour a week job at $9 bucks an hour and he works at Lowes 20-28 hours a week, as he can't seem to find work in our area. I don't know how we are expected to keep living our lives if we can't even afford to drive back and forth to work or keep heat in our homes! Something has got to change America. Our President, sitting in his fancy white house has no idea how the middle to lower class are living. Poverty is hitting people who once could save 5 bucks a pay check. Not today. I'm angry and don't know how to make a difference, but I feel better just speaking how I feel.

Most have heard or read the account of the Frenchman who many years ago visited the United States in search of the answer as to what made America so good.

He gave the following answer; "America is good because America's churches are good, when America's churches cease to be good, neither will America be good."

Well, we are there folks! We as a nation are a reflection of today's church!

I challenge everyone from sea to shining sea to find a church anywhere in the land that isn't apostate, (lawless, His law that is). Before you tell me about the great church you belong to, let me challenge you to first do your homework. In order for a church to be considered good wouldn't that church need to obey the Word of the Head of the church?

There are approximately 250 verses of Scripture in the NT containing imperative instruction for the believer, i.e. the church. If you can; show me one church anywhere, that isn't ignoring His instruction! You can't, so how can we expect to find a good leader out of a totally corrupted population.donvj1934@hotmail.com

Both political parties are corrupt and for the last 40 years have hood winked the American people about an energy plan to become independent from the oil supply of the Middle East. They have greased the palms of their friends, took money from the lobbyists yet we can not use the ample supplies of energy we have because to the money laundering going on. America will fall under the weight of its own corruption. Thank you Hertiage foundation for trying to make the American realize we will loose our freedoms because of lack of education of our Constitution.

Ron in Florida – It is encouraging to see that others are connecting the dots as you have in your post. The silver lining to the black cloud hanging over our country is that concerned citizens have the tools and voice to stop this madness. The wonderful piece yesterday about Detroit is what the nation has to look forward to if current policies persist. So much of what the MSM reports is fluff, not substance. Those who dig deep find the truth – and it is not always pretty.

Not only has the oil and gas industry been hurt, but also the coal industry suffers because EPA will not issue coal mining permits. If they do, it is a permit that has been in the pipeline more than a year or two. The Obama administration continues to crush jobs with a stroke of the pen. Fiat governments push against capitalistic governments to trun the countries into a state of ruin and its being done on purpose. Vinton Fry

And, this is but one area of Obama's deliberate destructiion of the USA and it's economy. It is time for U.S. companies and states to Just Go Ahead And Do What Is Right and What Is Needed, and say literally, "To hell with Obama and the Federal Government and it's myriad of bogus agencies, departments, bureaus and commissions and Just Do What Is Right For This Nation and it's States and Citizens." Obama and the U.S. congress are doing irreparable harm to this nation, and for the survival of this nation, States Will Have To Save it, One State at A Time.

Where are the Republicans? On the community organizer's dictatorial use of our military to wage war without congressional approval ? But forgive me, I have overlooked that the order was given to our military by the united nations or some sort of other world entity to wage war ( since when the un or other entity can order our military to obey these people ) because the "commander in lies " was busy vacationing somewhere in South America and could not be disturbed with such SMALL details because the IMPORTANT issue on his mind was brackets for the basketball tournaments.Talk about incompetense of the nth.degree.

I think we all need to realize that the rich get richer and the workers get screwed. I do not like politicians, lawyers and doctors. I think we would be a lot better if they would step into our world of every day struggles, after all the PEOPLE are who they work for. We dont work for the egg holes they work for us. We as the workers of this broke country need to somehow take over and knock the rich down to size. All men and women should be treated equal.

I think we all need to realize that we as the workers of this broke country should all be treated equal, the politicians are destroying what our four fathers fought and bled for this Great Country. The rich have taken over. Politicians,Lawyers,Doctors they work for us the PEOPLE, with out all of us where would they be? This country needs money in everybodies pocket not just the rich. Consumer spending makes up 2/3 of our economy. We are better off to have 10 people with 100 dollars in their pocket than one with a thousand. Wake up America the PEOPLE are what make the world go around.

I heard on a radio talk show that while in South America?, Pres. Obama told that countrys leader that we (American tax payers) would help them develop their off shore drilling. (He won't let us drill here at home and we have oil all over the US and coastal waters)

The best? part of the deal, after we help them bring in their wells, we (American taxpayers) will BUY THEIR OIL. Does anyone on here know if that is true?

That would be the worst things I can remember him doing. However, he still has two years to do worse.

"The only way to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil is to produce more of it here at home."

How about fuel efficiency standards? That would aid American independence and mean savings to consumers, even if it doesn't swell the bottom line for the companies that you're touting.

Britain's oil production is about equal to its consumption, yet their gas prices have gone up just like ours. That partisan slogan is simple misdirection, to put short-term profit for magnates in place of American public interest.

Ken Jarvis may do himself good if he got out from behind his computer desk and the Wash Post and stop living in the 1950's.. My avocation happens to be an insurance inspector and I evaluate employee work places everyday. Employers are attuned to Work Comp premiums, which increase by competition as well as injury and claims. Employers select the smartest people, with a solid work history. And employers today seek to provide a safe workplace. I know because I meet them every day. They dismiss poor performers; those who in addition to not following directives in their own tasks, create hazards for fellow employees. The teachers’ unions block any reforms whose intention is to improve the learning environment. Poorly performing teachers, who also violate students through verbal assaults increase the cost of education because their salaries continue while they sit in a room without students.

And your unions, in private companies, protect their own leaders, for the most part. And who the heck do you think pays for the union pay – you do, but so do the rest of us, for goods and services. Hey do like paying for a retirement plans that provide benefits you could only wish for? And while a mfg co pays more for the raw materials he needs, because he must buy them from a union co, all of us pay more for the product. It is ludicrous that the union in WI is asked to pay 15% of their retirement and they are destroying property that the tax payer will foot the bill for. The school drop outs continue, grads go out to apply for a job and they cannot complete an application. When the tax revenues were high, governments paid the higher wages and benefits, and that is great. But now tax revenue is down, a situation that will not last forever. But these Takers – union members and others are not willing to share in the tough times. Unions are no longer needed; there are more conclusive incentives for employers to provide a good workplace. Get with the times.

Their is a gentleman that has a book out called "The Oil Non-Crisis." In it he talks about the oil fields discovered in Alaska that are near the largest in the world. These fields are so large that they could supply the U.S. oil and natural gas for more than two hundred years. He also explains that the oil is not the dirty oil that it is being claimed to be our government, but in fact is sweet crude.

Americans have been deceived by present and past presidents and congress for decades because they know if the Americans new the truth, the people would rise up. He also states that oil prices are not being controlled by the Arabs or our goverment, but instead by the IMF and the World Bank because they know that oil is the real currency and control of it means control of governments and countries. Interesting reading. He also states that if you don't believe him, the info is available, if you do your research.

Obama is pursuing policies to reduce the domestic supply of petroleum to drive up the price of energy. This has caused people to buy smaller, more fuel efficient automobiles and trucks. It has also increased the cost of transportation and industrial feed stocks, which in turn have increased prices of nearly anything we buy. He wants the price of oil and gas to increase so that solar and wind energy seem to be relatively more economical than gas and oil. He is unduly worried about carbon dioxide and global warming.

I've got news for everyone. Our planet has been warming up over the past 12,000 years. Glaciers have been retreating, the sea level has risen, weather patterns have changed, the distribution and types of plants have adapted to new climatic conditions, and mega-fauna mammals have become extinct. Within the span of recorded history there have been epicycles of mini cold and heat episodes that temporarily altered the longer cyclical climate patterns. But the earth has always had changing climatic conditions to which life has adapted and evolved as evidenced by the fossil record.

The misguided and illogical effort to combat global warming is reducing our standard of living, harming the economy, and transferring huge sums of our wealth to oil producing countries. In the final analysis, we will have virtually no impact on our global weather but suffer huge costs due to the misallocation of resources caused by this misguided energy policy.

I am also tired of stupid and harmful governmental policies that we seem powerless to reverse. Our elected representatives should be informing the public of these clandestine policies and their impact on the economy. An aroused citizenry must throw the incompetent politicians out election after election until they start doing their jobs. In the meantime, we must support the officials and organizations that call attention to the issues facing our republic.

Having followed this column from the HF for some time now, I would like to make a response to Mr Jarvis and others who appear to be members of the liberal/progressive/union workers Democratic party. I believe the Sixteenth Teaching of the Bhagavad-Gita fairly well sums up the current president and leading members of the Democratic party today in that they do not care for other people or political parties and demonstrate this by hypocrisy, arrogance, vanity and harshness among other traits. Also, it would be good if Mr Obama and other current and future leaders of this country were to read and study and follow the teachings in the book "De Officiis" by Cicero giving them guidelines on morality and ethics. Once elected, it should be mandatory for elected officals to actually follow the Constitution and Bill of Rights as written for the good of the country and not try to put a spin on them to satisfy some special interest group request.

Where does the Office of the President gather it's authority to "BAN" anything much less oil drilling in this country? Why is no one challenging that action and questioning that authority ?

Where are the legal grounds for such an action to be found in Presidential authority ? Who will take up the fight and create the pressure to void that authority which is putting this nation in such economic stress ?

As I read the piece ‘Obama's Anti-Drilling Agenda Costs Jobs Across America’ I am again reminded that every incremental barrel oil or MCF of natural gas cost effectively produced and consumed in this nation creates jobs and reduces the current unprecedented transfer of wealth to oil exporters that has staggered our economy and devalued our currency since the early 1970s’.

I believe my firm conviction regarding the vital importance of cost competitive energy is shared by many of my fellow United States conservatives, while inexplicably our current President is off promoting and subsidizing offshore drilling in Brazil while impeding drilling in the United States.

The caption under the photo on page 12 of the 2009 Heritage Foundation Annual Report says it very well, “The path to abundant, affordable, energy is through the free market. The biggest obstacle is needlessly restrictive regulation and the perncious influence of government subsidies.

Following is an excerpt from the Senator Mark Kirk’s 16 March 201 1Washington Times article below:

"Tom Brokaw coined the title for Americans of the 1930s and 1940s who defeated the Depression, Japan and Nazi Germany simultaneously. I would add a fourth, largely unnoticed victory that Mr. Brokaw missed. After three great victories for freedom, our grandparents spent the next 20 years paying the debt incurred to win the contests of the Depression, Pacific and Europe. Their accumulated debt of 1946 totaled more than 120 percent of our national income. Economists report that between economic growth and some inflation, the Greatest Generation reduced the crippling World War II debt that secured our victory during the late-1940s and 1950s. The return to more fiscally responsible government sparked an economic boom that built the superpower called the United States of America."(end of excerpt)

This 'economic boom' sparked by a more fiscally responsible government that built the superpower called the USA was fueled by low cost domestically produced hydrocarbon energy.

Admittedly, those days are past.

We will not escape the need to import oil, but we still have oil within our borders and our federal waters to discover, produce and develop. Recent advancements by the U.S. oil and gas industry over the last several years have yielded vast natural gas reserves on land in our nation. Yet the current demand for natural gas is stifled by the aforementioned “needlessly restrictive regulation and the perncious influence of government subsidies”.

After human resources, abundant and reliable energy is the common 'life blood' flowing through national security and economic prosperity.

The lower the quantities imported and the lower the cost per BTU of this “life blood”, the better it is for the nation’s future economic recovery, growth, currency, and security.

The larger the percentage of our nation’s energy demand cost effectively produced and consumed from within our borders by the American oil and natural gas industry, the greater the intrinsic and stimulative effect on the nation’s entire economic system.

This intrinsic stimulation resonates through the economic system with a ‘multiplier effect’.

Every incremental BTU from any presently available energy source that is cost effectively produced today and consumed here in the U.S. is not only good for the U.S., it is good for the entire world economy. Reduced demand here in the U.S. for foreign oil creates greater supply to other importers.

The economic leverage that can be achieved with the size, scalability, infrastructure, continually developing/improving technology, and ‘can do’ spirit of the American oil and gas industry is unprecedented in the world today.

The American oil and gas industry is currently +/-1/6 of the nation's GDP and directly employs +/- 9.3 million people.

Consider the impact of ten percent annual growth of the American oil and gas industry for the next five years for real growth in jobs and GDP. The term 'shovel ready' truly applies to this potential growth.

The U.S. urgently needs and must take immediate and bold action to create an energy policy that empowers increased U.S. exploration and production. This action will provide genuine tangible economic growth, employment and tax revenue at all governmental levels.

To fuel the U.S. economic recovery and energy security, further accelerate and multiply the benefits of such action, U.S. energy policy must create greater American industry competitiveness in foreign markets.

The James Carville political phrase or slogan from Bill Clinton's 1982 campaign, "It's the economy, stupid" is still heard from time to time. I would modify it today to this, "It's the energy for the economy, Mr. President. Why do you not act in our nations’s best interest, Mr. President? It's the energy for the economy, Mr. President.

There continues to be no reason for the President to abuse America in the insistent manner he is. If obama had a decent ounce of integrity, he wouldn't count on his incoherency to be made exception to. Everyone around the world can drill everywhere, except Americans? This man has shown nothing good in the content of his political character. His favor is to foreign countries and American government union and government union employees as the rest of society falls down hill. He hires czars at an unnamed expense to the point where he is well hidden… for a man to need the protection of those he holds no accountabilities is as weak as weak is. The more czars he has, the weaker he is and the more fragile America is seen to be. He shows no respect to freedom of, for and by the people with respect to equal protection. He supports social justice over individual justice which says he isn't in support of individual freedom. His leadership is totally unfit for this country.

As I read the piece ‘Obama's Anti-Drilling Agenda Costs Jobs Across America’ I am again reminded that every incremental barrel oil or MCF of natural gas cost effectively produced and consumed in this nation creates jobs and reduces the current unprecedented transfer of wealth to oil exporters that has staggered our economy and devalued our currency since the early 1970s’.

I believe my firm conviction regarding the vital importance of cost competitive energy is shared by many of my fellow United States conservatives, while inexplicably our current President is off promoting and subsidizing offshore drilling in Brazil while impeding drilling in the United States.

The caption under the photo on page 12 of the 2009 Heritage Foundation Annual Report says it very well, “The path to abundant, affordable, energy is through the free market. The biggest obstacle is needlessly restrictive regulation and the perncious influence of government subsidies.

Following is an excerpt from the Senator Mark Kirk’s 16 March 201 1Washington Times article below:

"Tom Brokaw coined the title for Americans of the 1930s and 1940s who defeated the Depression, Japan and Nazi Germany simultaneously. I would add a fourth, largely unnoticed victory that Mr. Brokaw missed. After three great victories for freedom, our grandparents spent the next 20 years paying the debt incurred to win the contests of the Depression, Pacific and Europe. Their accumulated debt of 1946 totaled more than 120 percent of our national income. Economists report that between economic growth and some inflation, the Greatest Generation reduced the crippling World War II debt that secured our victory during the late-1940s and 1950s. The return to more fiscally responsible government sparked an economic boom that built the superpower called the United States of America."(end of excerpt)

This 'economic boom' sparked by a more fiscally responsible government that built the superpower called the USA was fueled by low cost domestically produced hydrocarbon energy.

Admittedly, those days are past.

We will not escape the need to import oil, but we still have oil within our borders and our federal waters to discover, produce and develop. Recent advancements by the U.S. oil and gas industry over the last several years have yielded vast natural gas reserves on land in our nation. Yet the current demand for natural gas is stifled by the aforementioned “needlessly restrictive regulation and the perncious influence of government subsidies”.

After human resources, abundant and reliable energy is the common 'life blood' flowing through national security and economic prosperity.

The lower the quantities imported and the lower the cost per BTU of this “life blood”, the better it is for the nation’s future economic recovery, growth, currency, and security.

The larger the percentage of our nation’s energy demand cost effectively produced and consumed from within our borders by the American oil and natural gas industry, the greater the intrinsic and stimulative effect on the nation’s entire economic system.

This intrinsic stimulation resonates through the economic system with a ‘multiplier effect’.

Every incremental BTU from any presently available energy source that is cost effectively produced today and consumed here in the U.S. is not only good for the U.S., it is good for the entire world economy. Reduced demand here in the U.S. for foreign o il creates greater supply to other importers.

The economic leverage that can be achieved with the size, scalability, infrastructure, continually developing/improving technology, and ‘can do’ spirit of the American oil and gas industry is unprecedented in the world today.

The American oil and gas industry is currently +/-1/6 of the nation's GDP and directly employs +/- 9.3 million people.

Consider the impact of ten percent annual growth of the American oil and gas industry for the next five years for real growth in jobs and GDP. The term 'shovel ready' truly applies to this potential growth.

The U.S. urgently needs and must take immediate and bold action to create an energy policy that empowers increased U.S. exploration and production. This action will provide genuine tangible economic growth, employment and tax revenue at all governmental levels.

To fuel the U.S. economic recovery and energy security, further accelerate and multiply the benefits of such action, U.S. energy policy must create greater American industry competitiveness in foreign markets.

The James Carville political phrase or slogan from Bill Clinton's 1982 campaign, "It's the economy, stupid" is still heard from time to time. I would modify it today to this, "It's the energy for the economy, Mr. President. Why do you not act in our nations’s best interest, Mr. President? It's the energy for the economy, Mr. President.

The James Carville political phrase or slogan from Bill Clinton's 1982 campaign, "It's the economy, stupid" is still heard from time to time. I would modify it today to this, "It's the energy for the economy, Mr. President. Why do you not act in our nations’s best interest, Mr. President? It's the energy for the economy, Mr. President.

BHO must be impeached now or we will experience ever greater destruction. As many commentors have accurately observed: his policies are both successful and intentional. The added advantage of immediate action is that congress can also reduce his retirement benefits and save us that ridiculous waste. This is Chicago politics at its' best!! Immaculate Corruption!!! We should also deport this international scum-bag George Soros. Europe surely has some outstanding indictments on him. The Dumocrats should consider the foreign opinion that will result when we've used up everyone elses resources and still have ours left.

The American Petroleum Institute at (www.api.org) publishes petroleum facts at a glance. This should be required reading for all our anti-oil buffs who have a mental blank on where and why the US dollar losing value.

"1. U.S. petroleum imports (crude & products) in January 2011: 11,636,000 barrels per DAY compared to January 2010: 11,236,000 b/d. [API]

2. Total IMPORTS in January 2011 as a percentage of total domestic petroleum deliveries: 61.7 percent (January 2010: 60.6 percent). {API]

[…] of Mexico and now a year later 103 drilling plans await government approval. Forget about the jobs this policies is costing us. We can give money to other countries so that they can drill for oil, but no way can we be […]

it would probably help if he actually liked this country, all indications are that he wants to ruin the capitalist system and try something else. I lived though the Jimmy Carter disaster and thought I would never see such as he again but the Democrats have pulled another out of the hat much worse and flim-flamed the American Voter with their scam. Mr. Obama is out of his depth, Mr. Obama had no experience, Mr. Obama has a hidden past and agenda that the propaganda organs of the DNC, the so called Main Stream Media hid from the electorate on purpose. The Democrat Party of Harry Truman is no more, what is left has morphed into the Democrat/Progressive/Marxist Party and Harry Truman would be appalled.

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